11 Hotels in Switzerland Offering Unforgettable Scenic Escapes

Switzerland redefines hospitality, blending luxury with warmth. From Zurich’s majestic Dolder Grand overlooking Lake Zurich to Zermatt's Cervo Mountain Resort with its indie vibe and direct Alpine access, Swiss hotels deliver attentive service with ease.

Why is Switzerland renowned for exceptional hospitality? With four linguistic regions—Italian, French, Swiss German, and Romansh—plus a high level of English, Switzerland’s language diversity fosters an inclusive service culture. Add a heritage of Alpine humility and top-tier hospitality schools, and it’s easy to see why Swiss service feels refined and genuine.

Switzerland’s hotel scene offers a remarkable blend: Michelin-starred dining, sustainable thermal spas powered by geothermal energy, and panoramic Alpine views for instant relaxation. Paired with the architectural artistry of Pritzker Prize winners, Swiss hotels offer a refined escape. Discover Dinogo's top 11 Swiss hotel picks in this edition of Hotels We Love.

The Alpina Gstaad

Perched on a hill just a short stroll from the picture-perfect resort town of Gstaad, the Alpina Gstaad opened its doors in 2012, marking the first luxury hotel to grace the area in a century. The French and Swiss owners, who are local to Gstaad, spent 15 years constructing this six-story hotel on a five-acre site, adhering to the town’s stringent building regulations. The lobby impresses with contemporary art, soaring ceilings, a striking central staircase, and reclaimed wood sourced from Switzerland, France, and Austria.

Featuring 58 timber-clad rooms, suites, and new residences designed by Chaletbau Matti in collaboration with local artisans, the interiors blend modern and traditional styles. Abstract artwork and marble bathrooms with large soaking tubs contrast beautifully with intricately carved wooden ceilings, leather cowbell strap lamps, and wooden cupboards inspired by long-standing designs in Swiss Alpine homes. Gas fireplaces provide added warmth and comfort on chilly evenings. Read Dinogo’s complete review of the Alpina Gstaad, and explore our comprehensive list of top ski lodges and resorts worldwide.

Beau-Rivage Palace Lausanne

The legendary Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne exemplifies Swiss hospitality from the Belle Époque era. Since its grand opening in 1861, it has hosted a stellar list of guests including Coco Chanel, Princess Grace, Grace Jones, and Keanu Reeves. This 168-room hotel boasts stunning views of Lake Geneva, the snow-capped French Alps, and the verdant Olympic Park, reminding visitors that Lausanne is the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee.

Yet, its contemporary facilities surpass even its breathtaking Alpine scenery and marble ballrooms adorned with Corinthian columns. The expansive Guerlain spa, nestled within the resort’s 10-acre grounds, features saunas, hammams, thermal and heated pools, and tennis courts. Among the six on-site restaurants, one, led by renowned chef Anne-Sophie Pic, boasts two Michelin stars. The interiors, redesigned by Pierre-Yves Rochon in 2014, showcase Murano glass chandeliers, parquet flooring, stained glass domes, and exquisite tapestries. Relax on the wrought-iron balconies with their iconic canary-yellow awnings, savor a glass of chasselas from the nearby UNESCO-listed Lavaux wine terraces, and bask in the sunshine.

Bürgenstock Resort

Following a remarkable nine-year, $600 million renovation, the legendary Bürgenstock Resort remains one of Switzerland’s premier hotels. Spanning 148 acres along an Alpine ridge that overlooks the deep blue waters of Lake Lucerne (known locally as Vierwaldstättersee), Bürgenstock comprises four hotels, twelve dining venues, and an expansive 107,000-square-foot spa—Europe’s largest—complete with hammams, saunas, and three pools, including an outdoor infinity thermal pool with stunning views of the lake and the snow-capped Alps of central Switzerland.

The newest additions are the 102-room Bürgenstock Hotel and the 160-room Waldhotel, a cutting-edge medical spa and hotel. However, the historic Taverne 1879 and the Palace Hotel, established in 1904, hold their own. The family-run resort, which began in 1873, has a rich history as a retreat for Hollywood legends—Sophia Loren resided here for many years, and Audrey Hepburn wed Mel Ferrer in a chapel on the grounds. While you can arrive by car, taking a boat across the lake followed by a steep funicular ride offers a truly spectacular entrance. In 2024, the resort introduced sleep wellness programs, guided Hydrothermal Journeys, a resident water sommelier, and new pickleball courts.

Cervo Mountain Resort

Not every Swiss luxury hotel is a castle or palace. This indie-inspired 36-room, ski-in/ski-out retreat—just an elevator ride from Zermatt’s Sunnegga funicular—comprises six chalets nestled against larch forests, overlooking the historic, car-free village and ski resort of Zermatt. Its modern, explorer-themed rooms, adorned with a gray color scheme and rustic wooden decor, provide some of the finest views of the Matterhorn, with many featuring fireplaces and all boasting balconies.

The outdoor thermal bath, heated to 107 degrees and accompanied by twin yurts, is the perfect spot to witness the enchanting alpenglühen on the Matterhorn, best seen in the mornings. Cervo attracts a younger crowd, focusing on unique experiences such as e-bike tours, Bhutanese medicine baths, guided hikes by the lake, Matterhorn training treks, and yoga sessions. The dining options are exceptional too, blending traditional Swiss dishes with Middle Eastern and Italian influences—a nod to Italy's proximity, just a hike, ski slope, or gondola ride away.

Dolder Grand

The iconic 175-room Dolder Grand overlooks Lake Zurich and the Glarus Alps, having welcomed notable figures from Nelson Mandela and Albert Einstein to Leonardo DiCaprio and Oprah Winfrey. Originally opened as a kurhaus (health resort) in 1899, it once employed Dr. Bircher-Benner, the creator of Bircher Muesli. In 2008, architect Norman Foster and Partners added two modern wings and entirely redesigned the interiors.

Rooms in the historic main building exude traditional charm, featuring beige sofas and hand-painted wallpapers, while accommodations in the new wing are spacious and contemporary, adorned with marble and sand-colored Jura limestone. The remarkable art collection, including works by Duane Hanson, Keith Haring, and Niki de Saint Phalle, is a must-see. Don’t miss the Michelin two-starred restaurant, where dishes like roebuck with buckwheat and truffles, and desserts such as fragrant forest strawberries with coconut and limoncello tantalize the palate. The crown jewel is the 43,000-square-foot spa, honoring its kurhaus heritage, equipped with a gym, mind and body studio, 17 treatment rooms, medical treatment facilities, saunas, steam baths, aroma pools, kotatsu footbaths, solariums, and sunaburos, warm pebble beds designed to warm your core.

Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues Geneva

How often can you stay in a hotel that hosted the inaugural 1920 meeting of the United Nations, formerly known as the League of Nations? The esteemed Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues Geneva, established in 1834, showcases its history with frescoes, soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a gilded neoclassical facade; it joined the Four Seasons portfolio in 2005. Nestled in the city center where Lake Geneva meets the River Rhône, the hotel boasts 115 guest rooms, including 44 suites—all designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon—with some offering views of the French Alps, Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva, and L'île Rousseau, a picturesque island named after Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

The three-level, 30,000-square-foot Mont Blanc spa features a stunning rooftop infinity pool, saunas, and hammams finished in white Marmara marble and aged oak. Its array of results-driven treatments includes micropuncture mesotherapy, probiotic facials, cocoa wraps, and champagne grape seed scrubs. For a taste of real champagne, visit one of the hotel’s three restaurants, including Izumi, which serves Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, while Michelin-starred Il Lago specializes in Italian delicacies such as spaghetti alla chitarra and cacio e pepe potatoes.

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

The culinary-focused Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, situated an hour from Zurich in the pinot noir-producing Rhine Valley of Canton Graubünden, includes two five-star hotels, each with its own luxurious spa. The resort’s flagship, Grand Hotel Quellenhof, reopened in July 2019, showcasing champagne-toned rooms adorned with Italian granite, contemporary chandeliers, and parquet accents. The spa offers unique treatments, including clam shells filled with hot lava minerals, jet peel facials, caviar therapies, and singing bowl massages.

Adjacent to the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, the property overlooks the jagged Glarus Alps and provides convenient access to Tamina Therme, featuring oversized white oval windows and naturally thermal water at 97.7 degrees, rich in magnesium and bicarbonate, sourced from Tamina Gorge in nearby Pfäfers, first discovered by 13th-century pilgrims. In addition to its two hotels and spas, the resort boasts three Michelin-starred restaurants totaling six Michelin stars. While it's difficult to choose, we recommend Memories restaurant, where chef Sven Wassmer offers a fresh take on seasonal Swiss cuisine.

Hôtel des Horlogers

The sleek, 50-room Hôtel des Horlogers is nestled in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland’s UNESCO-recognized watchmaking region, perched on a plateau at 3,300 feet, just minutes from the French border and an hour from Geneva airport. This is also the inaugural hospitality venture from the watch brand Audemars Piguet, whose headquarters and museum are located next door.

Designed by the Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), both the hotel and the brand's headquarters reflect a harmonious blend of modern luxury and sustainability. Like fine watches, the hotel's intricate details shine: subdued colors highlight oyster-shaped ceiling lights, while sculptural tree roots dangle from above. The hotel uses entirely biodegradable materials intended for eventual decomposition, including wood sourced from the nearby Risoud forest, local stone walls, cotton Literie Bonnet bed linens, and nontoxic carpet adhesives and textiles. The Le Gogant restaurant offers a seasonal, locally inspired menu featuring breaded Tomme Vaudoise cheese, vitello infused with fir, and apricot clafoutis paired with rosemary sorbet.

Mandarin Oriental Palace Lucerne

Lucerne’s Belle Époque jewel, formerly known as the Lucerne Palace, reopened as a 136-room Mandarin Oriental in September 2022, nestled along a prime section of Lake Lucerne’s pedestrian promenade at the edge of the old town. Local architect Iwan Bühler has transformed 48 suites into the largest accommodations in Lucerne, complete with charming touches like rubber ducky swans, mini bars stocked with Swiss whiskey, and exquisitely restored parquet floors. The breathtaking views of the surrounding Alps, including Pilatus—once famously ascended by Queen Victoria on a mule—are complemented by stunning sights of Jean Nouvel’s nearby KKL Concert Hall. With five dining options, including the newly Michelin-starred modern French restaurant Colonnade and afternoon tea on the Belle Époque veranda, guests will always find delightful meals.

Park Hotel Vitznau

The serene eastern shore of Lake Lucerne, known as Knife Valley, is the home of Victorinox, the creator of the Swiss army knife. The charming town of Vitznau, established for English tourists during Switzerland’s golden era of Alpine exploration, features picturesque gingerbread Victorian homes lining the lush lakeshore. Among them stands the stunning white-turreted, steep-gabled Park Hotel Vitznau, boasting 48 bright and modern guest rooms, some with private balconies.

At the helm is the Michelin two-starred restaurant, atelier Focus, offering exquisite dishes such as duck liver ice cream paired with beetroot, beef tartar, venison accompanied by maitake and lovage, and a dessert of apple with sorrel and miso caramel, all complemented by a 35,000-bottle wine cellar. Guests can enjoy the pool that extends from the extensive interior spa—complete with an ice grotto, saunas, and footbaths—out to the resort's lush lakeside lawn, or follow the locals' lead and dive into the turquoise swimming area of the lake, shaded by towering evergreens.

7132 Hotel

Pritzker Prize winner Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals, a sanctuary dedicated to water, is a compelling reason to explore the ancient Alpine village of Vals, nestled high in Graubunden’s rugged, quartzite-rich mountains. Aesthetes and architects alike journey to the 7132 Hotel, which showcases furniture by Fritz Hensen and Eero Saarinen alongside 73 guest rooms crafted by fellow Pritzker laureates. Zumthor incorporates Renaissance-inspired stucco lustro plastering, Tadao Ando designs rooms reminiscent of Japanese teahouses, and Kengo Kuma creates timber-clad rooftop suites, while Thom Mayne’s dark wood and quartz chambers evoke a sensory deprivation experience.

Four dining venues, including the Michelin two-starred Silver, serve dishes featuring locally foraged mushrooms and Alpine fruits and vegetables sourced from nearby regions like Piedmont, Alsace, and the Black Forest. Be sure to experience Zumthor’s hot bath complex, a labyrinth of steaming hammams, flower-adorned pools, and acoustically tuned watery chambers constructed from gleaming gray Valesite quartz blocks quarried locally. Guests enjoy daily access to Zumthor’s renowned baths, including exclusive night sessions available between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. three times a week.